Towards the end of 1932, The United States was experiencing the most catastrophic economic crisis of the 20th century. Naturally, the last thing on everyone’s minds was spending money. Everyone except for multibillionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr. who had a multimillion dollar idea.

1889 marked the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution so the city of Paris wanted to celebrate. The Parisians didn’t just have a parade with some balloons and trumpets, though, they threw a gigantic festival that the entire world was invited to. It was called the Exposition Universelle, or the World’s Fair.